Standing practically within the shadows cast by the Twelve Oaks Mall water tower sits 160 acres of farmland purposed for educating the public about agriculture and food system awareness.

The Michigan State University Extension Tollgate Education Center and Farm, located on Meadowbrook Road between 12 Mile and 13 Mile Roads, is a non-profit organization consisting of pastures, gardens, livestock, and community educational programs.

The farm complex is part of MSU Extension, a program located in each county throughout the state of Michigan designed to provide residents with information on topics ranging from agriculture and nutrition to gardening and natural resources.

"People learn by doing the experiential process," said Alan Jaros, the education coordinator at MSU Extension Tollgate Education Center and Farm on May 3. "Maybe they'll remember some of those processes they learned on the farm and apply them to life."

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Jaros said university research is applied in a hands-on setting at the farm to educate the community about food production, nutrition, and food sustainability. Some of the programs adults can attend pertain to horticulture, master gardening, food systems and teacher training workshops.

"We have tons of volunteers who donate their time, and that keeps this system running," Jaros said. "Volunteers are really the heart and soul of this facility. There isn't enough staff to keep it going."

The food grown by the Tollgate Garden Association in one of the gardens is donated to Forgotten Harvest to feed the hungry on a regular basis.

Jaros said it is very fulfilling to be able to involve children in programs at the farm as well.

"It really offers the unique opportunity for kids in urban and suburban settings to experience science hands-on," Jaros said. "It's very rewarding to see children's eyes light up when they learn something new."

Tollgate often hosts school field trips, field programs and summer camps to teach children where and how food is produced.

"When we do school field trips, young people from all over the urban communities come in and say, 'Oh my gosh, I didn't know that's where corn came from, off of a plant!'"

Jaros said one young person once thought ham grew in the ground.

"Young people are our future, and knowing where our food comes from can solve a lot of problems," Jaros said.

A 4-H club known as Sun, Water & Seeds is also active at the hoop house on the farm.

"They actually grow produce and sell it at a farmers market, so here we have young people engaged in their own community food system," Jaros said. "They can have food grown within 100 miles of their house."

This year, Jaros said the group will sell their produce at a stand right on the farm property instead of at local farmers markets.

The Farmington Hills Nature Center has also partnered with Tollgate for summer programs.

"The nature center is a wonderful asset here just down the street," Jaros said. "Kids go there and learn about ecology and interdependency, and they can also come here and learn about their food."

While many of the farm animals are irresistibly cute, they also serve as educational tools for students.

"We have a variety of animals, and we use them for education to teach people about where there food comes from," Jaros said. "We all eat three times a day, and it's important that as consumers we know where that food started."

Animals on the farm include cows, chickens, ducks, goats and retired draft horses from Greenfield Village. The most recent newcomers to the farm are three baby goats.

"Our doe goat, Dorothy, gave birth to three healthy kid goats," Jaros said. "They are doing very well and they are hopping all around. That was very exciting because those were the first babies born here in many years."

The MSU Extension Tollgate site receives federal funding from the USDA, along with state and local funding.

"Our site is funded through MSU, but also through a generous grant by the Americana Foundation," Jaros said. "We also fund many programs through revenue generation, or the cost of the program, and finally through supporters' donations and in-kind gifts."

Jaros said the organization also provides some children with scholarships to attend camps at the farm.

"We always search to increase our scholarship fund so more kids could attend."

People can donate to the MSU Extension Tollgate Education Center & Farm by visiting the site at 28115 Meadowbrook Rd. Donations and event registration can also be accomplished by contacting Alan Jaros at 248-347-0269. The farm grounds are open to the public from 8 a.m. until dusk each Monday through Saturday. Visitors must call Jaros in advance in order to see the animals or to schedule guided tours of the property.